SMEs, startups fuelling space innovation in India

To take full advantage of these reforms, it will be important for domestic and international space organisations to use key insights into the current state of the space ecosystem.

According to media reports and statements by the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), there are many local suppliers in India that support the agency, but it's not clear who they are, what their capabilities cover, and how exactly they contribute to the national space program.

To address this issue, Dassault Systèmes, in partnership with the global space marketplace satsearch, has conducted a unique trade study of 281 Indian space sector suppliers, focussing on their identity, location, and digital capabilities.

The study commissioned by Dassault Systèmes and conducted by satsearch, has identified over 165 SMEs in India that are contributing to the transformation of India's space sector. Startups, state-run institutions, academic institutions, publicly traded companies and large private companies constitute the overall list of 281 organisations in the space ecosystem, according to the study. Considered as 'NewSpace' companies, the majority are clustered in Bengaluru and the South of India. While the study puts the focus on 'digitalization' as a key driver of commercial success in NewSpace, it also underscores the lower maturity of adoption of digital tools and resources by the Indian space businesses.

The study found that to develop end-to-end launch vehicles and satellites, the NewSpace companies can leverage and integrate with the foundation built by over five decades of Indian space activities. This could help the companies to scale and grow internationally, opening up new markets and revenue streams. However, this will only be achieved if companies can harness the huge potential of digital technologies and processes to improve production. Only a fifth of respondents reported themselves as "expert" in the use of digital technologies while around two-thirds stated they were at a "beginner" or "intermediate" level. Digital technologies form the foundation of the ability to produce original IP (Intellectual Property) in the space industry. They can also empower organisations to produce state-of-the-art, innovative products and services. "A foundational understanding of the supplier landscape has become increasingly important, as reforms to open up space activities to Indian private industry are being undertaken by the Government of India," said Narayan Prasad, Chief Operations Officer, satsearch. "We found that digitalization has been identified by these companies as a key driver of commercial success in NewSpace and, for that, a connected development ecosystem and manufacturing workflow is vital for businesses to realise the opportunities that the NewSpace sector offers."

"The NewSpace companies in India can disrupt the space exploration and satellite industry as they race to produce increasingly sophisticated satellites and reusable launchers. Speed of innovation will be crucial here. By integrating digital technology into product development, companies can accelerate the product lifecycle from concept to take-off and gain the strategic advantage of first-to-market," said Deepak NG, Managing Director, India, Dassault Systèmes. "As part of our commitment to the evolving industry we hosted a 'Conference on Evolving NewSpace Ecosystem in India' in Bengaluru to provide a platform for industry leaders, innovators and subject matter experts to interact and discuss areas of collaboration."

Dassault Systèmes' cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE platform provides integrated solutions that can help the NewSpace players to succeed in the new era of space and satellite technology. It strengthens their ability to design and manufacture sustainable 'first-time-right' rocketry and satellite systems with the required quality at lower costs and faster delivery of satellites into orbit. It is used to create virtual twin experiences, which are accurate and executable virtual models of physical operations that allow companies to evaluate multiple what-if scenarios with ease and speed.

The shape of the international space industry is changing. China is emerging as a significant force for example, while Europe and Japan are continuing years of support for multiple commercial and research projects, and the UK is now developing more independent initiatives after exiting the European Union.

In addition, the US is orienting aspects of its public-funded activity around ambitious exploration goals, battling climate change, and increased space militarisation through Space Force, while the private industry is growing on many levels in the country.